HPU Promotes Keilitz to Vice President of Athletics

HIGH POINT, N.C., Aug. 21, 2013 – Craig Keilitz has been promoted to Vice President of Athletics at High Point University. Keilitz has been Athletic Director since 2008 and the department has undergone unprecedented growth since then, including upgraded facilities and the additions of men’s and women’s lacrosse.

Craig Keilitz

“Craig Keilitz is a talented leader who brings both commitment and focus to our athletic program,” said Dr. Nido Qubein, HPU president. “We are delighted to promote him to vice president and know our future is promising.”

High Point University’s teams have reached many milestones under Keilitz’s leadership, including the first NCAA Tournament appearances for volleyball and women’s lacrosse. The women’s lacrosse team began varsity play in 2011, and the men’s team took the field for the first time in 2013. Additionally, the men’s basketball team won the Big South’s North Division in 2012-13, which was the team’s first conference championship since moving up to NCAA Div. I in 1999-2000.

In total, High Point has won 12 conference titles in the last five seasons. HPU had won just seven conference championships in the previous nine years.

HPU has upgraded every athletic facility under Keilitz’s watch, with some of the highlights including a $2 million renovation of the Millis Center in 2008 as well as Mondo 3NX turf at Vert Stadium in 2011. HPU has built new locker rooms for men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s lacrosse and men’s soccer since 2009. The basketball office suite in the Millis Center was upgraded in 2010.

Academic success has been a high priority and the results show it: the Athletic Department’s cumulative GPA has consistently been above 3.0 and three Panthers were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in 2012-13. There were a record 260 Millis Scholar-Athletes in 2012-13, up from 148 seven years ago.

Keilitz is also active at the conference and national levels. He was named to the NCAA Div. I Championship/Sports Management Cabinet in 2012 and is on six different Big South committees. Keilitz is chair of the men’s soccer committee.

Keilitz joined HPU following 13 years at Wake Forest University, where he served as Associate Athletic Director. Prior to that, he worked at Michigan and Florida State. Keilitz earned his bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 1991 and received his master’s in sports administration from Ohio University in 1992.

At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people.? HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with over 4,200 undergraduate and graduate students. It is ranked by U.S. News and World Report at No. 1 among Regional Colleges in the South and No. 1 among Up and Coming Regional Colleges in the South. Parade Magazine lists HPU in the top 25 private schools in the nation. HPU was selected in the 2013-2014 list of “Colleges of Distinction.” The university offers 44 undergraduate majors, 43 undergraduate minors and 11 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the Web at highpoint.edu.